East Woodhay Poppy Appeal collector bows out

New volunteer needed after more than three decades of service

AN East Woodhay Poppy Appeal collector has bowed out after more than three decades of service.

Norman Powers first became involved with the Royal British Legion appeal on his return to East Woodhay after 24 years in the Royal Navy.

“There had been a long tradition of house-to-house collection in this rural area stretching back at least as far as the end of World War Two, which was well supported by the local men returning from the war,” said Mr Powers.

“Their number has now dwindled and there are very few ex-service people around.”

After beginning as a Poppy Appeal collector in the mid-1980s, Mr Powers became the appeal’s organiser for the hamlets of East Woodhay and Woolton Hill.

“I added new recruits over the years and we had a well-knit team covering the vast majority of the parish,” said Mr Powers.

Thanks to support received across the area, including from local businesses, the amount raised each year had risen from the low hundreds until now it was in the thousands.

This year marked his 32nd as a Poppy Appeal collector and he has decided to retire.

He said: “It would be a pity if this long tradition of supporting our ex-service population ended with me and I would be very pleased if someone stepped forward and took on the roll. They would have my full support during their early years.”

Membership of the Royal British Legion is not a necessary requirement.

Anyone interested should contact Mr Powell by email at pollard01@tesco.net.